来源::网络整理 | 作者:管理员 | 本文已影响 人

17. Formal education tends to restrain our minds and spirits rather than set them free.

Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the statement and explain your reasoning for the position you take. In developing and supporting your position, you should consider ways in which the statement might or might not hold true and explain how these considerations shape your position.

One of the important goals of education is for students to become independent and creative individuals who are ready to step into the society and make contributions that surpass their predecessors. However, there are several reasons that cast doubt on this prospect.

First, formal education tends to provide a fixed set of methodology, often stressing too much on analytical and critical thinking and reasoning, but breakthrough in many fields seems to rely on creative spirit that extends beyond the limit of rationality. (e.g. Jobs’ criticism on the excessive emphasis on critical and rational thinking in American college system and his stress on intuition; Van Gogh’s breakthrough to impressionism that seems to benefit from his lack of training in realistic painting)

Second, formal education, the theme of which often depends on governments’ ideology, often distorts students’ perception of truth. (often happens in history classes)

However, creativity is not equal to pure random spur of ideas. No matter in art or in science, creation requires rational elements. Formal education teaches students to become adept in manipulating these elements, but never intentionally confine students’ thoughts and spirits within the limitation of these instruments. As long as students themselves are always eager to try out new approaches, the control of effective methodology is actually a propeller rather than an inhibitor of their creative ideas.

First, in science, without intensive training in scientific methodology, there is simply no ground for theoretic breakthrough.

Overall, any creation requires one not only to master the rational tools that derived most easily from formal training but also to avoid being limited to overusing those tools. The speaker’s insight does point to some

innate flaws of formal education in the extreme form, but ultimately fails to do justice to the contribution of formal education.

68. Some people believe that the purpose of education is to free the mind and the spirit. Others believe that formal education tends to restrain our minds and spirits rather than set them free.

Write a response in which you discuss which view more closely aligns with your own position and explain your reasoning for the position you take. In developing and supporting your position, you should address both of the views presented.